May 25, 2013

Buy a week of holiday bliss

If you have a young family and want to take them somewhere great for a holiday, then you might think if you book a holiday cottage in a beautiful location you can’t go wrong. Sadly, sometimes you can, as some private holiday homes are mis-advertised and people are tricked into thinking that they’re choosing an idyllic place to spend their holiday when actually the reality might be rather disappointing.

For those people who have had bitter experience of a holiday cottage not meeting their expectations, it may be better to try out booking your holiday at a holiday park. You might be put off by the idea of camping or staying in a mobile home, but you can now book holiday lodges in Cornwall, South Wales, Norfolk, Scotland and Dorset with Park Dean Holidays.

The holiday lodges are available in a number of styles, ranging from log-cabin style to contemporary modern, but each is equipped to be a home away from home. Staying in a holiday lodge, there’s no chance of feeling like you’re ‘roughing it’ as they have fully equipped modern kitchens with integrated appliances and en-suite bathrooms. There’s a spacious and comfortable living area where you can relax after a hard day at the beach, swimming pool or hill climbing!

All of the lodges are in beautiful surroundings, whether they’re in woodland, by the beach or near a lake. Each lodge has its own outdoor space, so that you can feel you have room to get away from the hubbub of normal life. However, you can still be close enough to take advantage of fantastic facilities on the holiday parks like swimming pool complexes, outdoor play areas and entertainment.

A holiday lodge on a holiday park can be a perfect compromise for those people looking for their own space to spend a quiet week’s holiday in a beautiful location, but with all the facilities they may want or need close at hand.

Shopping trips abroad

If you love shopping, but have got tired of going to the same old places, then why not take shopping to a whole new level and go on a shopping holiday?

Now with so many cheap flights available, and the Euro weak against other currencies, it’s a perfect time to book a flight to a European city and go shopping. Whether you’re going on a girls’ shopping trip for clothes or you want to get all your Christmas shopping done early, it’s great fun to take a practically empty suitcase with you, and fill it up with all those things that you might not find in the shops at home.

Jet2.com flies to some great European destinations, where you can combine shopping with a little sightseeing or maybe a couple of days on the beach. For example, the company operates flights to many different locations in Spain, where at this time of the year, you can still get some really lovely warm weather.

In Malaga, the shopping focal point is the pedestrianized street of Calle Marqués de Larios down by the port which is a great place for shoe shops and clothing boutiques. You’ll discover many more shops tucked down the lanes that lead off the main street, where you can find both high street names and individual shops.

There are also are some great purpose-built shopping malls like the Vialia Shopping Centre down by the Maria Zambrano train station with high street stores like Zara and H&M. There’s also a very big department store called El Corte Inglés.

Once you’ve had a shopping fix, you can spend the rest of your time in Malaga taking in some of the tourist sights or just relaxing on the beaches, which are only a short distance from the main shopping areas.

Seeking Out Value In Classic Car Insurance

Getting insurance for a classic vehicle can be more difficult than getting insurance for a Ford Fiesta or Renault Clio. The very unusualness of a classic car is the kind of thing that makes it more complicated for insurers to price up a policy for it.

Many insurance companies use automated systems to calculate the cost of a policy, and the people who you speak to at a call centre are unable to ‘work’ the system to accept or adjust for any irregularities that a classic car might have. One key example is the replacement value that a normal insurer might put on a classic vehicle. They may not be able to accept that the car has a greater value than its market value – purely because of its classic status.

That’s why it really is best to go to a specialist insurer when you are looking for classic car insurance. For example, you can get Classic Camper insurance from Cherished Vehicle Insurance, a company that deals in insurance policies purely for classic car, motorhomes, military vehicles and kit cars.

All the staff at CVI are car enthusiasts themselves, and you’ll benefit from the accumulated knowledge that they have about classic cars. They recognise that each driver and the car they are looking to insure will have their own special requirements, and CVI has policies that can be built to fit you and your vehicle.

Classic Camper insurance from CVI offers benefits such as discounts for limited mileage, a free agreed value service, a discount for club members, as well as multi-vehicle policies and EU cover for up to 90 days. Any and all modifications will be considered.

Get some comparative quotes from a couple of mainstream and specialist insurers and you’ll soon see the advantages in going with a specialist like CVI.

Buying A Car? The Honda Fit Goes Electric

This year marks the arrival of the first fully electric vehicle produced by Honda. The Honda 2013 Fit EV should be available in the States in the summer of 2012.

Long the leader of hybrid technology in transport, Honda has already shown its concept EVs but this is the first production EV by Honda.

The Fit will have a range limit of 123 miles thanks to its 92KW electric motor. The motor is the same used in the bigger car, the FCX Clarity, and this translates to powerful acceleration for the Fit EV. In fact the Fit EV has 77 per cent more torque than the gasoline Fit.

While driving the Fit EV, drivers can choose between three different driving modes – Normal, Econ and Sport. In normal mode, the standard settings are used across all systems, in Sport the electric motor is used more aggressively, so it’s good for overtaking. This gives better throttle response and quick acceleration. And if you want to get the maximum range, switch to ECON, which can increase driving range by 17 per cent.

Like the original Fit, the new car offers nippy handling, aided by its low centre of gravity and independent rear suspension.

There’s an on-board charger which can recharge a depleted battery in under three hours on a 240V circuit. Drivers can choose when the charger is in use, via a mobile phone app or the Multi-Information Display on the dash. This allows drivers to make use of electricity company’s off-peak tariffs. The Fit EV can also be charged using public charging stations, and you can top off the battery when you make a stop even if it’s not completely out of charge. The navigation system lists public charging station locations in the States, as does the Fit EV smartphone app.

You can also charge the Fit EV at home, using a home charging station to ensure that you have access to a 240V circuit.

To begin with, Honda is planning to lease just over one thousand of the Fit EVs at $389 per month for a three year period. Roadside assistance and maintenance costs are included in the price.

 

Day time beauty buys

If you’re looking for tips for great day time beauty buys and make up tips, then look no further! Looking good is important to most of us, and our everyday look is important to get right as, after all, it’s when most people will see us! So whether we’re at work, seeing friends, or just out and about, it’s nice to have some beauty buys to rely on.

First of all, one of the best and most budget-friendly beauty products you can invest in is petroleum jelly. Petroleum jelly can be used for a whole host of beauty purposes! From moisturising very dry skin, to keeping eyebrows in check and adding a natural looking gloss to lips, it is a simple yet effective beauty product that is well worth investing in. Find mini handbag-sized tubs to carry around with you when you are out and about too.

Another good tip for everyday fabulousness is to make sure you moisturise on a daily basis to keep skin looking soft, supple and more youthful. If you have time to do only two things with your face before you leave the house, make sure they are moisturising and adding a coat of mascara. A coat of mascara can do wonders for your eyes; making them look instantly larger and opening up your whole face.

Shiny and clean locks are another beauty must-do. You don’t need to spend a small fortune on posh products either. Washing regularly with a product such as Pantene and ensuring you use an intensive conditioner once a week will keep your hair in tip-top condition. Always rinse hair thoroughly when washing to avoid dullness or product build-up, and avoid washing every day if you can help it, as this can strip hair of the natural oils it needs to stay shiny and healthy.

Online tips from an expert ABOUT the experts

online_searching

online_searching

A friend of mine is an Interior Designer.  Actually, she’ll turn her hand to outside as well!  She will offer advice and oversee the installation of anything from a towel rail to a curtain pole, dishwasher to double glazing.  She told me the other day that when it came to the latter (double glazing) she prefers to do research for her clients online.  Because the products were not for her own personal use, but her clients, she felt she would be able to “avoid the pestering double glazing salesman”.  That said, she has managed to compile a list of great online sites that offer double glazing quotes, windows, doors and installations.  [Read more...]

So, what to buy – a young adult male?

special event shopping

special event shopping

OK, here’s my set of ideas when you are shopping for a young adult and this time it’s just some thoughts on what men would be interested in.
1. A sporting fixture – there is plenty of opportunity to buy tickets for sport fixtures, football and rugby spring to mind as possibilities obviously you need to pick the right team as I’m sure a Chelsea fan wouldn’t ideally fancy a trip to Anfield if Chelsea aren’t the opposition. Cricket Twenty Twenty matches are a good fun way to spend an evening and tickets are very reasonably priced.
2. Magazine subscriptions can work for guys too, buying a year’s subscription to Mens Health, Empire or even a ‘lads mag’ can be organised online. You can even trade in Tesco clubcard vouchers for subscriptions so it wouldn’t even have to cost ‘real money’. [Read more...]

So, what to buy – a young adult?

Starting with young women first and using 20-25 as a rough age range for what a young adult means I have come up with a range of suggestions including brands and options to suit a variety of budgets.
1. A personal shopping appointment – these can actually be booked in most department stores free of charge but to make a present out of it then throw in lunch and some budget towards the styles that the personal shopper selects. Some stores will specify a minimum spend however others make no charge and there is no obligation to buy anything – although you probably will.
2. Beauty treatment – anything from a mini manicure to the full spa weekend should be very well received. A mini manicure can be from around £10 and a day package to a spa can be fund for as little as £60 depending where you are in the country and what treatments are included. [Read more...]

So, what to buy – a late teenage boy?

1. Gadgets – there is a wide variety of electronics and consoles which might make the perfect purchase, not to mention games and accessories. Remember to find out exactly what brand / model you are buying for as a Nintendo game won’t be of any use for those with a Sony etc. To get round the issues of buying specific items (unless you have been provided with a list) then you can go down the voucher or gift card route for stores like Game or HMV etc. [Read more...]

So, what to buy – a late teenage girl?

teenage jewellery

teenage jewellery

Here are some ideas however I can’t be held responsible if your young teenage recipient isn’t entirely happy with the result, teenagers can be fickle.

1. Clothes – new clothes are pretty popular with teenage girls and they enjoy shopping so there are a few options here. To avoid any faux pas with actual items of clothing you are probably better to go with vouchers. You can get gift cards almost anywhere so some good options might be Primark (more for your money), New Look, Next or one of the department stores like John Lewis, Debenhams or House of Fraser. There are also cards available from the Post Office which you can spend at a variety of outlets so you are not constrained to one store. [Read more...]